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WORLD TRADE REPORT 2011 PTAs and the WTO: From Coexistence to Coherence

WORLD TRADE REPORT 2011 PTAs and the WTO: From Coexistence to Coherence. Geneva, 20 July 2011. Major Themes of WTR 2011. Preferential trade agreements (PTAs) continue to proliferate Trade preferences are less and less important, so other factors are driving PTAs

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WORLD TRADE REPORT 2011 PTAs and the WTO: From Coexistence to Coherence

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  1. WORLD TRADE REPORT 2011PTAs and the WTO:From Coexistence to Coherence Geneva, 20 July 2011

  2. Major Themes of WTR 2011 Preferential trade agreements (PTAs) continue to proliferate Trade preferences are less and less important, so other factors are driving PTAs “Deeper integration” trends are rising These developments have an impact on the relationship between PTAs and the WTO

  3. Number of PTAs in force (1950-2010)

  4. Intra- and cross-regional PTAs in force (1950-2010)

  5. PTAs by type (1950-2010)

  6. Tariff preferences matter less and less Only 16% of total trade subject to preferences; 51 % MFN duty-free; 33% positive MFN Average tariff only 4%, with 2 % of trade eligible for preferences above 10% “Competition-adjusted” preferences: Some 87% of trade benefiting from preferences have margins of no more than 2% BUT Certain tariff peaks persist on “sensitive” products, sometimes in both MFN and PTA trade About 66% of MFN trade with tariffs of 15% or more attract the same tariff levels under PTAs

  7. Other motives for PTAs • Considerations applying to both MFN agreements and PTAs: • Neutralizing the “beggar-thy-neighbour” effects of unilateral trade policies • Gaining credibility and reducing uncertainty through lock-in effects • Signalling openness to investors • Some other factors particular to PTAs: • Increasing domestic market size • Achieving deeper commitments, perhaps more quickly • “Political” motives

  8. “Deep” integration characterizes an increasing number of PTAs Arrangements that go beyond a simple free trade area. “Intensive” and “extensive” integration: WTO+ and WTO-X International production networks foster deep integration, a reflection of the complementarity between trade and governance A proxy measure for production networks: trade in intermediate goods

  9. Number of PTAs covering WTO+ provisions

  10. Number of PTAs covering WTO-X provisions

  11. Number of PTAs covering WTO-X provisions

  12. Evolution of WTO+ and WTO-X provisions

  13. WTO+ and WTO-X provisions by income group

  14. WTR2011 examines some policy areas in greater detail • Areas examined: • Services, investment, TBT and competition policy (all “behind-the-border”) • Questions addressed: • How much harmonization occurs? • How far beyond the WTO? • Are there family resemblances within or among PTAs?

  15. Multilateralism and PTAs Potential synergies • Deep integration provisions may be non-discriminatory: the MFN dividend • Mechanisms in some PTAs may support further integration • “Non-party" MFN clauses • Docking provisions Potential systemic risks • Trade remedies provisions in PTAs (e.g. anti-dumping and safeguards) may reinforce discrimination • The effect of preference erosion on multilateral action • “Lock-in” and risks of regulatory divergence

  16. Future WTO Agenda on PTAs • Press on with MFN opening • Strengthen GATT/WTO rules • A possible “softer” sequential approach • Transparency mechanism as a first stage • Best practice in PTAs • Define rules • A process aimed at “multilateralizing” regionalism • Reducing transactions costs and minimizing risks of regulatory divergence • Seeking increased commonality in rules of origin • Banking (binding) preferential tariffs • Turning WTO+ and WTO-X into WTO • Rethinking WTO decision-making as an aid to the multilateralization process

  17. Thank you

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